Nontamperable package and parts thereof



April 4, 1939. J, G, KOSAR 2,153,428

NONTAMPERABLE PACKAGE AND PARTS THEREOF Filed Oct. 15, 1935 sun IIIIIII u INVENTOR (Jo fin Q. Kara) 7K BY ,r

M ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES NONT'AMPERABLE PACKAGE AND PARTS THEREOF 'John G. Kosar, Brooklyn, N. Y.,, assignor to Anchor Cap & land City, N.

Closure Corporation, Long Is- Y., a corporation of New York Application October 15, 1935, Serial No. 45,055

8 Claims.

The present invention is an improvement upon application Serial No. 744,292 owned by the assignee of this application, and pertains more particularly to tamper-proof packages and partsthereof.

Many bottlers and packers have been striving to devise a practical non-tamperable closure for bottles and the like which will prevent dishonest persons from adulterating the contents or substituting inferior products for the original contents. These illegal practices predominate wherever the cost of the product is substantial or where the bottlers or packers have built up a good name for their product. Since the revival of the liquor industry, many bottlers of well known products have been plagued with counterfeiting or bottlegging of their products. Their chief concern has been to provide a non-tamperable package which is inexpensive and which does 20 not increase substantially the cost of their prodnot.

The previous invention referred to above, provides a construction which solves many of the difficulties for making the closure non-tamperable. The present invention is a simplification of the parts of the previous construction and aims more particularly to decrease the cost of the closure and to simplify the manufacture, the assembly and the removal of the parts thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive non-tamperable seal.

Another object of the invention is to decrease the cost of the parts necessary to provide a non- 35 tamperable seal.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the application and assembly of the parts in sealing the container.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and reduce the cost of manufacture of the locking element utilized in providing a non-tamperable seal.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate the removal of the parts after the seal has been broken.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional View of a nontamperable closure applied to a container, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a spring member for locking the cap on the container; 1

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of another embodiment of spring member;

Fig. 4 is a perspective ment of spring member;

Fig. 5 is a. sectional View showing the spring member illustrated in Fig. 4 assembled in a breakable band or collar;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another form of spring member;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another form of spring member; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of still another form of spring member.

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a container l, a closure cap 2, a frangible band 4 and a combined spring and locking member 5. These parts will now be described in detail, in the order named.

The container I preferably is a glass bottle or jar provided with a screw thread or other cap engaging means for engaging corresponding means on the closure cap. The container may be provided with a shoulder 7 adapted toenhance its appearance and may have a pair of projections 8 above the shoulder adapted to cooperate with the band in seating and breaking the band 4, as will be described hereinafter. Above the projections 8 there may be provided a shoulder or shelf 9 for seating the spring or looking member 5.

Preferably, the closure cap is made of moldable material such as phenolic condensation products, synthetic resins and the like, although, if desired, sheet metal or other materials may be utilized. The cap has a cover part l and a depending skirt ll provided with screw threads I2 at the interior thereof for engaging the threads 6 on the container. Any suitable compressible liner M for sealing the rim of the container may be provided in the upper part of the skirt and may be held in place by a suitable liner retaining ledge IS. A series of downwardly facing ratchet projections I 6 are provided below the threads of the cap for engaging suitable projections on the spring or looking member which will be described hereinafter. The lower portion of the skirt is flared outwardly at l1 and is provided with a ledge l9 and a depending flange 20.

The band 4 illustrated herein is in the shape of an annular ring having a groove 2| at the upper exterior end thereof adapted to receive the flange 20 of the cap to" provide an overlapping joint to prevent access to the spring member by forcing a tool between the cap and the band. The interior of the band may be provided with one or more radially outwardly extending recesses 22 adapted to register with the projections 8 on view of a third embodithe container to lock the band on the container against relative rotation between the band and the container. The upper portions of the recesses 22 are adapted to receive a portion of the spring member 'to lock it into engagement with the band,

against accidental separation and relative rotation and terminate in a downwardly facing shelf 23 adapted to hold the spring member against upward movement. If desired, the projections 8 and the ends of the recesses 22 may be provided with cam faces 24 and 25, respectively, adapted to cooperate with each other when the band is rotated by the cap to force portions of the band radially outwardly to facilitate breakage.

The spring ratchet member illustrated herein preferably comprises a stripof material bent into the form of a split ring. If desired, a flat strip of spring metal may be stamped or cut into proper lengths and thenibent into the desired shape, or if desired, pieces of substantially resilient wire may be utilized. The spring member illustrated in Fig. 2 is provided with a pair of outwardly extending projections 26 adapted to fit into and register with the recesses 22 of the band to lock the spring and the band against relative rotation. In order to provide a vertical spring eifect, the spring member 5 may be curved downwardly at 21 to engage the shoulder 9 on the container and also may be curved .downwardly substantially at the ends thereof as shown at 29. One of the free ends of the split spring member is bent upwardly out of, the horizontal plane thereof, as shown at 30, so that it is adapted to engage the ratchet projections [6. of the closure cap, and acts as a ratchet projection or pawl when the cap is rotated to seal the container and to serve as a stop or looking projection for preventing'unscrewing of the cap without breaking the flangible band or collar 4. In this manner, the cap and band 4 are locked together and are rotated as a unit upon'unscrewing the cap which causes the projections 8 on the container to break the band. Since the spring member is constructed of resilient material, the when the cap is applied and permits the ratchet portions IE to ride thereover and thereby does not interfere with the application of the cap.

An important advantage of the split spring member is that only a small amount of material is utilized. The spring is made from a narrow strip, little of which is wasted as compared with stamping the spring from flat sheets where the centrally out out portion is wasted. In this mannera saving of about seventy-five per cent in the cost of the spring member is effected. Another advantage is that the strip is coiled into its circular shape and is radially resilient so that it may be sprung into the recesses of the band to hold itself therein. In this manner, if the bands are slightly over-size, the spring ring expands itself into the recesses, while if the bands are slightly under-size the spring ring may be forced into the band. the cap is partly unscrewed to break the band,

the spring member may be unfolded and removed from the neck of the bottle before removing the cap.

In Fig. 3 a sheet metal band is shown wherein recesses 3| are provided at the inner periphery of the ring member substantially in radial alignment with the projections 26. By stamping out these recesses, the spring member is more readily coiled into its circular form and may be removed more easily from the neck of the container. If desired, a straight fiat strip may be bent to proupwardly bent end 30 yields A further advantage is that after vide the recesses 3| before, after or during the formation of the strip into a ring.

In- Fig. 4 there is illustrated a spring member formed of a strip of resilient wire of desired thickness which is provided with projections 26, spring portions 21 and 29', and an upwardly extending end portion 30' adapted to engage the ratchet portions l6 of the closure cap. This construction is inexpensive, since only a small portion of wire is necessary and no material is wasted. Also, the manufacturing operatings for making this construction are simple, since the wire can be coiled and formed to provide the projections 26, spring portions 21' and 29', and the upwardly extending end 30 by a single operation. The wire member may be assembled with the band 4 as shown in Fig. 5 and, if desired, may be held against downward movement by suitable projections 32 formed in the recess portion 22.

In Fig. 6 a spring member is shown constructed of a strip of flat metal and is provided with tabs 34 which are stamped out adjacent to the projections 26, and which are bent downwardly to provide spring portions. Such spring portions are more resilient than a grooved portion of the spring member as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 7 there is shown another form of spring member which may be constructed of a strip of sheet metal or a piece of wire, wherein both the free ends of the spring member are bent upwardly out of the horizontal plane to provide ratchet projections for engaging the ratchet portions N5 of the cap. One of the ends 35 is flared upwardly at an obtuse angle while the other end 36 is bent over at an acute angle to prevent interference with the ratchet portions l6 when These projections 35 and 36 provide a double pawl and ratchet efiect to insure locking of a cap with respect to the band when the cap is sealed upon the container.

In Fig. 8 another modification of the present invention is shown, wherein the spring member is provided with a pair of upwardly bent tab portions 31 adapted to act as ratchet stops. Preferably, a pair of tabs are provided at diametrically opposite points and adjacent to the radially outwardly extending parts 26. Any suitable number of tabs, for example, one, two or three may be utilized, although two groups of two tabs each are illustrated herein. Where two or more adjacent tabs are employed, the ratchet portions of the cap are securely locked to prevent unscrewing of the cap and the operation of the device is not dependent upon one ratchet member.

In providing the non-tamperable closure described above, the cap and band preferably are molded by suitable operations to form the threads and ratchet portions. The spring members may be provided by stamping or by cutting a member from a strip of material or wire, forming the band engaging projections and ratchet engaging portions, and bending the member into a circular or annular shape. The caps may then be provided with the liners and the spring members may be assembled with the bands or collars. Since the spring members are radially resilient, they are radially sprung into the band and are held in place against accidental removal. Thereafter, the cap and the combined frangible band and spring member are shipped to the packer.

In assembling the non-tamperable closure, the band is seated upon the neck of the container so that the recesses 22 register with the projections 8 and the spring portions of the spring member rest upon the shelf or shoulder 9 of the container,

while the lower end of the band is substantially adjacent to the upper end of the shoulder 1. The cap may thereafter be applied either by hand or automatic machinery and screwed on to seal the container. As the cap is screwed downwardly, the ratchet portions l6 slip over the upwardly extending pawl or ratchet engaging portions of the spring band, while the flange at the lower edge of the cap moves into registry with the groove 2| of the band to provide an interlocking joint between the band and the cap. Upon further downward movement of the cap, the band is moved slightly downward in opposition to the spring portions until its lower edge abuts substantially against the shoulder I. In this manner, the ratchet lock is completely enclosed, making access thereto impossible without breaking the band.

In opening the package, the ultimate consumer merely unscrews the cap. This causes the upwardly extending part of the spring member to lock with the ratchet portions I6 to rotate the band member by means of the interengaging projections 26 of the spring member and recesses 22 of the band member, whereby the cam portions of the band member are forced over the cam portions 24 on the projections 8 of the container to break the band. The band after being broken, falls from the container permitting the closure cap to be unscrewed. Preferably, the band has a color which contrasts with the color of the cap, so that it is a conspicuous part of the package. The closure cap thereafter may be utilized to reseal the package until the contents have been dispensed.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a non-tamperable cap which prevents unscrewing of the cap without leaving a visible indication thereof. The construction may be manufactured at a very low cost and may be assembled with a minimum amount of effort. .The spring locking member is made from a very small amount of material and reduces the cost thereof to a minimum. Also, by providing a split spring, the spring is assembled more securely with the band and cannot separate therefrom during shipment of the parts to the packer. The parts are rugged in construction and can withstand any rough usage to which they may be subjected during shipment or assembly.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understoodthat all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a split ring member for a non-tamperable closure comprising a resilient wire member having radially outwardly bent portions adapted to fit into recesses of a breakable collar, and having a downwardly struck spring portion intermediate the ends thereof adapted to seat said member resiliently on a container and having one free end thereof bent upwardly to provide a projection for engaging a closure cap.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a breakable collar having a pair of recesses therein and a resilient split ring member having radially outwardly extending portions fitting into said recesses, said ring member having a downwardly facing spring portion and having one end thereof extending upwardly to provide a projection for engaging a closure cap.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frangible band for a non-tamperable closure cap having a recess for mounting a spring member therein, and a split substantially annular spring member having an outwardly extending portion adapted to fit into said recess to lock said member with said band, said spring member having one end thereof bent upwardly to provide a pawl adapted to engage a ratchet portion of a closure cap.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frangible band for a non-tamperable closure cap having recesses for seating portions of a spring member therein, and a substantially annular split spring member formed of resilient metal normally having a slightly greater outer periphery than the inner periphery of said band to hold said member therein, said member having outwardly projecting portions fitting into said recesses to lock said band and member against relative rotation and having one end thereof bent upwardly to engage a portion of a closure cap.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frangible band for a non-tamperable closure, and a split ring member in said band locked against relative rotation with respect to said band having one end thereof bent upwardly to provide a pawl adapted to engage a ratchet portion of a closure cap, said ring member being formed of resilient material and normally having a slightly greater outer periphery than the inner periphery of said band to hold said ring member in said band.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frangible band for anon-tamperable closure, and a split ring member in said band locked against relative rotation with respect thereto, said member having a downwardly facing spring portion and one end thereof being bent upwardly to provide a pawl adapted to engage a ratchet portion of a closure cap, said member being formed of resilient material and normally having a slightly greater outer periphery than the inner periphery of said band to hold said member in said band.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frangible band for a non-tamperable closure cap having a recess therein, and a split substantially annular wire member having an outwardly extending portion adapted to fit into said recess to lock said member in said band, said member having one end thereof bent upwardly to provide a pawl adapted to engage a ratchet portion of a closure cap.

8. As an article of manufacture, a split ring member formed of a strip of resilient material, said member having one end thereof extending upwardly at an acute angle and having the other end extending upwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the horizontal plane of said member to provide a pair of pawls inclined in the same direction for engaging ratchet portions of a closure cap.

JOHN G. KOSAR. 

